T. E. BOWEN by T. E. BOWEN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 31, 1907

T. E. BOWEN

By T. E. BOWEN

Balaam

T. E. BOWEN

In Jude we are told that in the last days, when the enemy of all righteousness shall work with all deceivableness of unrighteousness, the people of God will be in danger of being enticed into following in the way of Balaam, who “ran greedily” after a reward. Because of that, Balaam is classed by the inspired pen of Jude among such ones as Cain and Korah, men positively ranged on the side of opposition to the work of God.

As Jude points out this danger to the people of God living in “the last time,” it certainly will not be unprofitable to consider the work of Balaam, and its result upon God’s chosen people of his time.

Balaam was not a false prophet. This is proved by referring to Num. 24:4. Speaking of Balaam, it says, “He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open.”

He heard the words of the Almighty,—words that can not lie. He saw a vision given him by God. He heard what God had said about his people. He knew the will of God concerning them, that they were to inhabit the fertile country just across the Jordan. All these things Balaam knew, and yet there was something in his mind of greater worth than all this revelation of the Almighty concerning his purposes for Israel.

After long years of weary wandering about in the wilderness, Israel had been led at last by the pillar of cloud to the plains of Moab, on the east side of Jordan, just opposite Jericho. They already had begun the conquest of the promised land, having slain Og, the king of Bashan, and Sihon, king of the Amorites. The next event on the program was to cross the Jordan into the long-looked-forward-to land of promise.

Nestled in perfect order upon the plains of Moab, the encampment of Israel presented a most imposing sight; so much so that Balak, the king of the Moabites, was very much disturbed by their presence, although Israel was to have nothing to do with Moab at this time. God had commanded them not to touch Moab, yet of course Balak knew nothing of this.

Balak sent a request to Balaam to

come and curse Israel. Balak’s messengers went to Balaam “with the rewards of divination in their hand.” These messengers found Balaam and delivered unto him the message. Balaam entertained them overnight, and told them he would tell them the words of God concerning the matter “as the Lord shall speak unto me.”

Before Balaam asked the Lord about the matter, God told him what to tell these messengers. “And God came unto Balaam [not Balaam unto God], and said, What men are these with thee?” Then Balaam gave the Lord the contents of the message from Balak. “And God said unto Balaam, thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.” This was a very simple, direct message, which should have at once ended the whole affair. Balak wanted Balaam to come to him. God’s direct answer was, “Thou shalt not go with them.” Balak wanted him, after he was come to him, to curse Israel. God said clearly and emphatically, “Thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.”

Balaam spoke to the messengers in the morning his own words, saying, “Get you into your land: for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you.” He had said he would bring them the words of God, but he did not. He smoothed it down by saying, “The Lord refuseth to let me go.” As much as to say, “I would be very glad to go with you, but God objects, and so I can not.”

Then more honorable messengers, with greater presents, were sent. Mind, Balak had no connection with God. He could not get word from God direct. But Balaam admitted that God had spoken to him. A message direct from heaven!—not prized very much by Balaam to be sure, but greatly prized by Balak. Balaam was flattered by the king’s word, “I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed.” But Balak was after a word from God against Israel. In this he was greatly disappointed. The weak, vacillating prophet, when he opened his mouth, had to speak what God said, and God blessed Israel. After repeated trials, God at last said to Balak through Balaam: “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; I can not reverse it. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.”

Balaam spoke the words of God,—true, unchangeable words,—but he goes down upon the sacred history with infamy attached to his name, because at heart he was not right with God. He tried to please the enemies of God’s people, and at the same time pose as true to God. He said in vision, “Let me die the death of the righteous [an Israelite], and let my last end be like his,” but this prayer never was answered. Just before Moses’ death, the Lord told him to avenge Israel of the Midianites. During this battle Balaam and the kings of the Midianites were slain by the sword of Israel.

But Balaam’s counsel to Balak gave some hint how Israel might be defeated. Could they be led into sin, then their blessing would be changed. Thus, Moses tells us, came about the great plague when twenty-four thousand of Israel perished, and this, too, after they had endured the long wilderness pilgrimage, and were about to enter the promised land.

Moses, in meeting the warriors as they returned from the battle of the Midianites, saw they had saved all the women alive, and said, “Have ye saved all the women alive? Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.”

Israel was enticed in some manner into the worship of the Moabites. They sacrificed with them to their gods. “And the people [Israel] did eat, and bowed down to their [Moab’s] gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.”

God is still with his people. He is directing them what to do. He expects that we shall obey implicitly what he tells us to do. The warning of Balaam is before us. If we are set to have our way, God may permit us to have it, though a foot may be crushed against a wall in the Lord’s endeavor to arouse us to see we are in opposition to him. If we still go on, Balaam’s fate is before us also. He died the death of the alien, apart from God, among God’s avowed enemies, unhonored, and covered with disgrace. But think of the awful results of his evil counsel! Thousands in Israel fell, and that, too, in sight of the promised land.

Reader, is your heart fixed to serve God? Is there in your heart a desire to do differently than what God says Israel ought to do? If so, rest not one moment until that thing is obliterated from your soul. Plead with God until the victory is gained, and you know that rather than disobey God you would choose death. This is the obedience of the Son, and this only is the obedience that will pass the final test for admittance into the kingdom of God. Iniquity “shall not rise up the second time.” And a tested people God will have.

Let us beware of the doctrine of Balaam (see Rev. 2:14), and thus escape the woe pronounced upon those who follow his example in doing contrary to the plain words of the Lord. Let us take good heed to cleave unto the Lord and love the Lord our God with all our hearts, harkening unto the voice of his word. This shall be our glory among the people: the Lord is nigh unto this people. “For them that honor me I will honor,” saith the Lord.

Takoma Park, Washington, D. C.